Mutilated and bloodied bodies of around 20 victims were laid out in front of the US Embassy by angry survivors, the BBC's Paul Welsh reports from the city.

They were angry, he says, that America had not led a peacekeeping force to Liberia while there was still a ceasefire to keep.

People who spoke to our correspondent said they had lost faith in a country they used to speak of fondly because it was only interested in looking after its own.

News that America was moving about 4,500 marines and sailors to the Mediterranean for a possible role in Liberia briefly raised spirits until it became clear that it would take two weeks for them to arrive.

Jeers, boos and angry questions began again, our correspondent says.

American moves

About 40 American troops did arrive in Monrovia on Monday, landing by helicopter, but they were only there to beef up security at the embassy.

We're working with Ecowas to determine when they will be prepared to move in the peacekeeper troops that I have said we would be willing
to help move in to Liberia

George W Bush

They were flown in from nearby Sierra Leone and the helicopters were later used to evacuate foreign aid workers, including the UN's last seven foreign staff in the country, and journalists back to Freetown.

President George W Bush appeared to suggest on Monday that the US was planning to help deploy an African force rather than send in its own troops.

"We're working with Ecowas to determine when they will be prepared to move in the peacekeeper troops that I have said we would be willing
to help move in to Liberia," he said at his ranch in Texas.

Washington, which is calling for an immediate ceasefire, wants President Taylor to step down but has also warned the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (Lurd) rebels.

"We've seen this reckless and indiscriminate shelling that has been carried out by the Lurd group," State Department spokesman Philip Reeker
said on Monday.

"We think that's got to stop. There is a ceasefire that needs to be upheld."

Mr Taylor has accepted an offer of asylum from Nigeria but refuses to stand down before the arrival of international peacekeepers.